AS IT turns out, not all news is fit to print ... but these insiders will whisper if you lean in close.
We’ve brought together our top insiders to report from Brisbane’s worlds of politics, law, business and entertainment to bring you a concentrated dose of the week’s top tips and gossip.
Politics with Steven Wardill
Premier in charge
ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk seems to be acting a bit like the “all seeing eye” out of Lord of the Rings. CoP sources tell us a po-faced Queensland Premier warned her ministers at a recent Cabinet meeting that she knew which of them were privately supping with which reporters. More than a few of
Labor’s own inner sanctum were left somewhat perplexed by Palaszczuk’s cautionary and conspiratorial tale. After all, isn’t it their job to sell the Government’s message, whatever that is? That notorious Ring of Power might be getting to someone.
Labor asset sale
IS Queensland House, the state’s historic address on The Strand in London, about to be flogged off? Surely, the Labor Party wouldn’t dare indulge in ... wait for it ... an asset sale? The former Newman government pondered the same after a review penned by businessman Geoffrey Thomas and former Labor minister John Mickel. But it never happened. The building sits on prime land and would fetch a princely sum. Several floors are empty. Others have been leased out. Most interestingly, however, is that Agent General Ken Smith appears to be already operating out of quarters owned by the Federal Government.
File: Anthony Albanese got behind the decks to spin a few tunes on Friday night.
Yo! Albo in da house
ANTHONY Albanese, the Federal Opposition infrastructure and transport spokesman, hit the decks at Fish Lane on Friday night with a few of his favourite tunes. Touted as an “all round music buff”, Albo was playing for a good cause, raising much needed dollars for the party’s Moreton, Bonner and Forde campaigns. Cost was $50 for “waged folk” and $30 for “unwaged” with a free drink on arrival. And we can’t fault some of Albo’s music picks, which included tunes from Powderfinger, Spiderbait, Regurgitator and local favourites, The Go Betweens.
Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove at the 25th anniversary lunch for the Loaves and Fishes lunch for the Exodus Foundation at Ashfield. Picture Cameron Richardson
In the firing line
ENEMY fire might not faze former Vietnam veteran and current Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove but put him in a room alone with a journalist and he apparently starts to sweat. Our spies tell us Sir Peter prepared himself for the media when he was made Chief of the Defence Force a few years back by having a media trainer “harass” him during lunch. “Basically he’d have lunch with him at his desk and because he was so time poor he’d have a guy with him grilling him,” COP’s source says. “He’d basically be firing questions at him and training him up on how to answer questions, how to divert them and how to respond.” These days the GG is quite a polished media performer and no doubt enjoys less interruptions to his lunch breaks.
Courts with Melanie Petrinec
Stench of justice
THE Brisbane Courthouse stank to high heaven on Tuesday, and it was not because of the controversial Gerard Baden-Clay appeal decision.
Dozens of journalists assembled outside the court to cover the case were greeted that morning by the pungent smell of fertiliser in the grassy area across from the entrance.
Workmen were shovelling the fertiliser throughout the morning, causing some journos to almost gag between live crosses.
The
date of the Baden-Clay decision being handed down was unknown until the
night before, so we’re 99 per cent sure the move to fertilise the area
on one of the busiest days of the year for court reporters was not
deliberate.
Justice John Logan. Picture: Darren England.
Who’s really in charge?
YES, even Federal Court judges have to listen to their better halves.
Brisbane-based Justice John Logan was last week trying to negotiate a particularly hectic 2016 schedule, and was having trouble fitting in a lengthy trial.
When September was suggested, he was quick to point out he had already scheduled holidays which could not be moved.
“My wife wouldn’t permit me to do that,” he quipped.
Business with Glen Norris
Devine moment
WE hear David Devine’s proposed float of Metro Property Development is off the cards indefinitely. Our spies tell us Devine believes he “dodged a bullet” in calling off the planned listing earlier this year given the lacklustre performance of the stock market since then. Metro Property in June deferred plans to raise $170 million on the ASX, blaming the market downturn and poor sentiment towards new listings. At the time Metro decided to wait until market conditions improved. But CoP hears the listing plans have been scrapped. The company has since lined up funding from Credit Suisse so there is no question it is short of cash.
Fruit and veg
WE hear the planned takeover of the Rocklea Markets by Sydney-based VGI Partners is set to heat up over the next couple of days. Brisbane Markets, the operators of the fruit and vege mecca, is set to release its reply to the $140 million takeover offer on Friday. Support for the bid is growing but VGI still has a lot of lobbying to convince traders to sell out.
We’ve brought together our top insiders to report from Brisbane’s worlds of politics, law, business and entertainment to bring you a concentrated dose of the week’s top tips and gossip.
Politics with Steven Wardill
Premier in charge
ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk seems to be acting a bit like the “all seeing eye” out of Lord of the Rings. CoP sources tell us a po-faced Queensland Premier warned her ministers at a recent Cabinet meeting that she knew which of them were privately supping with which reporters. More than a few of
Labor’s own inner sanctum were left somewhat perplexed by Palaszczuk’s cautionary and conspiratorial tale. After all, isn’t it their job to sell the Government’s message, whatever that is? That notorious Ring of Power might be getting to someone.
Labor asset sale
IS Queensland House, the state’s historic address on The Strand in London, about to be flogged off? Surely, the Labor Party wouldn’t dare indulge in ... wait for it ... an asset sale? The former Newman government pondered the same after a review penned by businessman Geoffrey Thomas and former Labor minister John Mickel. But it never happened. The building sits on prime land and would fetch a princely sum. Several floors are empty. Others have been leased out. Most interestingly, however, is that Agent General Ken Smith appears to be already operating out of quarters owned by the Federal Government.
File: Anthony Albanese got behind the decks to spin a few tunes on Friday night.
Yo! Albo in da house
ANTHONY Albanese, the Federal Opposition infrastructure and transport spokesman, hit the decks at Fish Lane on Friday night with a few of his favourite tunes. Touted as an “all round music buff”, Albo was playing for a good cause, raising much needed dollars for the party’s Moreton, Bonner and Forde campaigns. Cost was $50 for “waged folk” and $30 for “unwaged” with a free drink on arrival. And we can’t fault some of Albo’s music picks, which included tunes from Powderfinger, Spiderbait, Regurgitator and local favourites, The Go Betweens.
Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove at the 25th anniversary lunch for the Loaves and Fishes lunch for the Exodus Foundation at Ashfield. Picture Cameron Richardson
In the firing line
ENEMY fire might not faze former Vietnam veteran and current Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove but put him in a room alone with a journalist and he apparently starts to sweat. Our spies tell us Sir Peter prepared himself for the media when he was made Chief of the Defence Force a few years back by having a media trainer “harass” him during lunch. “Basically he’d have lunch with him at his desk and because he was so time poor he’d have a guy with him grilling him,” COP’s source says. “He’d basically be firing questions at him and training him up on how to answer questions, how to divert them and how to respond.” These days the GG is quite a polished media performer and no doubt enjoys less interruptions to his lunch breaks.
Courts with Melanie Petrinec
Stench of justice
THE Brisbane Courthouse stank to high heaven on Tuesday, and it was not because of the controversial Gerard Baden-Clay appeal decision.
Dozens of journalists assembled outside the court to cover the case were greeted that morning by the pungent smell of fertiliser in the grassy area across from the entrance.
Workmen were shovelling the fertiliser throughout the morning, causing some journos to almost gag between live crosses.
Justice John Logan. Picture: Darren England.
Who’s really in charge?
YES, even Federal Court judges have to listen to their better halves.
Brisbane-based Justice John Logan was last week trying to negotiate a particularly hectic 2016 schedule, and was having trouble fitting in a lengthy trial.
When September was suggested, he was quick to point out he had already scheduled holidays which could not be moved.
“My wife wouldn’t permit me to do that,” he quipped.
Business with Glen Norris
Devine moment
WE hear David Devine’s proposed float of Metro Property Development is off the cards indefinitely. Our spies tell us Devine believes he “dodged a bullet” in calling off the planned listing earlier this year given the lacklustre performance of the stock market since then. Metro Property in June deferred plans to raise $170 million on the ASX, blaming the market downturn and poor sentiment towards new listings. At the time Metro decided to wait until market conditions improved. But CoP hears the listing plans have been scrapped. The company has since lined up funding from Credit Suisse so there is no question it is short of cash.
Fruit and veg
WE hear the planned takeover of the Rocklea Markets by Sydney-based VGI Partners is set to heat up over the next couple of days. Brisbane Markets, the operators of the fruit and vege mecca, is set to release its reply to the $140 million takeover offer on Friday. Support for the bid is growing but VGI still has a lot of lobbying to convince traders to sell out.
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